Up Schitt's Creek

It's been a long time since I've had this level of obsession for a show/movie/book etc. It used to happen to me all the time. I think it tapered off about 10 years ago, but I've found something new.

I'd been told to watch Schitt's Creek a couple time over the past few years it's been out. I've seen/heard it mentioned on Facebook on occasion. I looked at the premise and didn't think it sounded super interesting. I knew who Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara were, but *shrug*.

And then I started watching and it took exactly two episodes before I was hooked. Lots of shows take much longer than that. Sometimes when I recommend shows, I tell people to skip the whole first season. Not so with this one. It's delightfully funny! Not generally raunchy, and not cheap laughs. Very witty and quick dialogue. There are definitely some (purposefully) cringey moments of situational humor that just makes you want to crawl out of your skin in embarrassment for the character - but they are not the main fare.

The show starts off setting the stage, a family of former billionaires, now penniless living in a rundown rural motel. We get to laugh at them as they try to find their place in the town. So many other shows and movies show the dynamic flipped. We usually see the country folk coming to the big city and bumbling their way around. This change is refreshing.

All of the characters are likable. Even the annoying mayor grows on you over time. It's made very clear from the start that though the Rose's are spoiled and generally selfish, they are not bad people. It wasn't their fault they lost their wealth. The focus becomes the family dynamic and growing their relationships with each other.

Dan Levy, one of the stars and also the show-runner and writer, producer etc, also made a point to normalize queer relationships. His character is originally thought to be gay. Early on, this assumption is challenged and he is revealed to be pansexual. The town is incredibly accepting of his queerness and the creators made a deliberate choice not to allow homophobia to exist in the show. It's really a beautiful thing, especially later in the series.

I think this is the main reason I am so enthralled with the show. It's a basic sitcom. It's hysterical. The characters are compelling. And everything feels real and authentic and beautiful. And being queer is so okay, that it's barely even discussed.

My boyfriend is like a 12 year old when it comes to romance on TV and in movies. He groans and mutters and complains about romantic tension and kissing etc. He did not react that way to this show. To the queer relationships portrayed within. He was giddy with excitement. It's a great thing for us to share. It's lovely and important.

Nearly every other piece of media portraying LGBTQIA+ love is either tragic or a coming out story. I think both have a place, and have some importance, but I think we need to move past that. This show helps in such a huge way.

As I said, it's been a long time since I've had such a deep obsession for a piece of media. I think the last one was Firefly back in college. I was on message boards and I read and wrote heaps of fanfiction about it. Schitt's Creek is like that again, but more personal. I have what feels like a crush on the show itself if not at least one character within it. It's a strange feeling. It makes me want to write again, though I'm afraid to, as I've historically been bad at dialogue and comedy and that's the whole show.

Anyhow, I've kept this as spoiler-free as possible, to hopefully entice anyone who may ready my blog to go watch it immediately and then come talk to me about it because I'm dying to discuss it at length with anyone and everyone.

I'm not doing very well currently.

Work has become stressful and chaotic. I try to leave that behind when I'm home, but I can't shake it. I keep thinking I missed some crucial information about an animal that will doom it, or a potential adopter. I literally get jolted awake some nights, dreading the next day's schedule. Everyone there is frayed and overworked and stressed. We feed off each other's moods and spiral further.

I haven't been able to run in months. This spring I noticed my foot hurt a bit. I self-diagnosed with tendinitis and rested to no avail. I finally went to a podiatrist in June. I was told I'd need orthotics. I sought advice from elsewhere, and started doing all sorts of strengthening exercises and stretches, and decided to rest my foot as much as possible. I was supposed to be training for a beautiful trail race, that I ended up withdrawing from. Months later it still hurts just as much. I went to another foot doctor. He also said custom orthotics were the way to go. I have, to put it bluntly, fucked up feet. It was only a matter of time before these issues became known and it's only a matter of time before I'll need surgery to correct some of it or I'll have arthritis. So I'm getting the insoles. I hope they help. I hope I can run again soon, or at least hike. Though it seems I'll need to give up my minimal footwear and barefoot ways.

Due to lack of running and sad/stress-eating, I've gained quite a bit of weight this summer. That just bums me out even more.

I know what I need to do, I just can't seem to do it.

I know I need to find another way to keep fit that doesn't stress my foot too much. I know I need to either start looking for other jobs or find ways to lower the stress level and keep it at work. I know I need to keep an eye on my diet.

It doesn't help that all my friends are struggling too.

I've found a therapist a couple months back who is helping a bit.

I don't know where I was going with this post. It feels childish. It feels bad. But it also feels good to write a bit. I sure haven't done anything of the sort for a very long time.

When shelter work is not all fun and games:

There is real danger in the “no kill” shelter movement/ideology. This week, I have personally observed how horribly it can go wrong.

I believe it comes from a place of caring. Save every animal. It seems so straight forward. But it’s never that simple. The “no kill” movement requires a 90% live release rate. That is, 90% of animals taken in, must go out. They generally allow for euthanasia for serious medical cases. Everything is more complicated when arbitrary numbers and quotas are involved.

Last year, the residents Pueblo Colorado voted for a law requiring that the city/county municipal shelter follow “no kill” doctrine. A local no kill rescue significantly underbid the open admission organization that ran the shelter. (Open admission shelters take anything and everything that come to the doors. The “alternative” to "no kill.")

As this was happening, I was worried about how the shelter would be run, as my shelter has always had a good relationship with the former contract-holders. I worried that the rescue did not know what they were getting into and that the “no kill” legislation wouldn’t work for a municipal shelter.

Turns out that my worry was well-founded. PACFA, the regulatory body for shelters, recently released a report about the conditions of the shelter in Pueblo. It was deplorable. No fewer than 14 animals died in their facility since they opened their doors on January 2^nd. Numerous animals were not receiving proper medical care, to include a dog that was hit by a car. Animals were housed in kennels too small for their size.

Basically, the “no kill” shelter was allowing animals to suffer and die. This does not seem like compassion to me. This smacks of ego. Or, at best, sheer incompetence.  

Today I woke up at 3am and drove a large vehicle to Pueblo to get some animals out and to medical care at our facility in Denver. Even then, we got some push-back from other “no kill” organizations. They wanted to “save” the remaining animals from us. Interestingly enough, they left the animals in the worst conditions or with the least likely adoptable outcome. I am confused about that logic. We will treat them to the best of our rather extensive ability. We will work with any behavior issues that are present or may arise. Most of all, we will approach them with compassion and treat them humanely whatever their outcome may be. 

We don’t like to harp on it because it really is just an arbitrary number, but the Dumb Friends League meets the requirements set by the “no kill’ movement in Colorado. We have a live release rate above 90%.

I'm left astounded at the mental gymnastics involved to think that anything is better than going to a shelter that performs euthanasia even if it involves inhumane conditions.

I’m also tired.

New Year

So, I don't do resolutions, but I do try to accomplish a couple goals each year:

Reading a certain number of books (audio counts, but I do have a separate goal for actual reading.)

Running a certain number of miles.

And that's about it, generally. In 2018, I did not meet either of these goals. Though I was only 12 miles off my running goal for the year. I was pretty sick (still am in fact) for much of December, so making up those miles wasn't in the cards. Regardless, it was way over 2017's total.

I was way off on the reading. I listen to audiobooks when I walk to work and when I drive around town delivering and picking up animals, but it's just not the same as when I was cleaning all day and could listen for 8+ hours. I'll figure out the appropriate number of books some year soon.

So I adjusted my goals for this year and so far have run 0 miles and read 0 books.

Good thing I have 11 1/2 months to work it out. Just need to get rid of this damn cough.

I've lately been reading stuff that people I know have written. Like, instead of random authors' books, I've been reading friends' books. And it's made me delve back into my "writings" folder to peek at all my attempts to write.

It's been a long time since I've written. And much, much longer since I've finished anything. But I read some of the things I started and I like them a lot. I forgot most of them and wish I had more to read, many are so compelling.

I wonder if I could finish any, or work more on any. I feel so discouraged about writing. Maybe I should look into taking a writing class at a local university or community college.

Maybe I should share some of my fragments with others and get feedback?

*shrug*

I've been sorta sedentary this summer. I figured that I trained for and then finished a 50k, why not take a bit of a break? I did not intend for it to last three months and counting. I did run a bit with my boyfriend as he trained for his half Ironman. I have done some recreational trail running for short distances. But I actually might need the nudge of an impending race to get me to really get back into gear.

It's also been hot out and I am very averse to spending much time in the heat, so I looked into other avenues of physical activity. I found a groupon for a very reasonable price for 10 classes at a kickboxing gym. Pretty cool stuff! I went for the first time about 3 weeks ago and it was really great. Nice atmosphere. Challenging, but fun workout. My arms were quite sore the evening after. Then, as I tried to sleep that night, my right arm kept having shooting pains. I didn't sleep at all that night. I called into work the next day and took myself to the doctor to see if I'd damaged something. The answer was sort of disappointing. Probably just a pulled/strained muscle. I was prescribed rest, a sling, ibuprofen and muscle relaxers for sleeping. I used the meds and the sling for about a week. I've been working on mobility, but the strength has not returned yet. I can only do about 5 pushups which is pretty sad as it's been my daily routine for years to do at least 25. I guess I'll have to hold off on the kickboxing class for a bit longer. In the meantime, at least it does't hurt to run.

I tried a new trail this week. An actually new trail, not only new to me. It is a trail that connects two Jefferson County Open Space parks and it's beautiful. A bit on the warm side still (foothills) but will be a great standby that's less than an hour's drive.

Anyhow, I guess I don't write very often these days. Nothing exciting going on.

Greenland Trail

So last week I did one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, physically and mentally. I ran (and walked) 50 kilometers (31 miles) in about 7.5 hours.

Main thought after 5 hours: who pays for this sort of torture?

Because I didn’t know what to expect at aid stations, I brought all my own food. Probably too much, I definitely had a pretty full bag, but it served me well. My stomach was never in trouble. I did have to force myself to eat at regular intervals toward the end, but I was able to keep my energy levels up quite well. I did have to fill my hydration bladder though. And yes, it’s a pain to fill and replace. I can see how hard bottles are easier at aid stations, but the bladder is just so much easier to carry and run with.

My feet were fine! I was so happy. I worried about blisters between my toes, so I brought injinji socks as a backup. I didn’t start with them because the individual toes push my feet just wide enough to crush my pinky toe. I still have a black nail from more than a month ago. I never had to change socks or tape any toes or anything. I did have to dump pebbles out of my shoes from time to time. I like my shoes to be quite loose, so that’s a hazard, but easy to remedy.

The weather was beautiful! It was a tad hot, but not unbearable. It was a bit humid too, but gorgeous. I applied sunscreen before the race, but neglected to bring any along. Luckily the aid station had some and I avoided a burn. It was some sort of very strong "man" scent though. 

The trail was 4 loops of the same course. It got a little draining mentally, especially at the third loop, knowing I’d have to be back again, even more tired. Besides being loops, the trail actually did double back on itself for a short stretch. Getting to that aid station and literally turning around and running the exact same stretch again was rough.

I finished 75^th out of 80 finishers.

I’m not sure how I feel about races. There’s definitely an atmosphere that’s fun, but since I finished so many hours after the winners, everything was packed up and there were only a few people to meet me at the finish. I don’t mind that it wasn’t full of people, but almost all the snacks were gone and it was just sort of sad. I paid the same amount as the others did and I finished in before the cutoff time, but I feel like I missed out a bit at the end.

I was definitely slow, I definitely could have benefited from a lot more training. But I finished, and honestly, for my first ultramarathon and first trail race, that’s all I was hoping for.

When I crossed the finish line I was overcome. It was odd. It was surely mostly due to exhaustion, relief. But I definitely teared up. Someone was handing me a medal. Boyfriend was congratulating me and asking me stuff, someone else was offering water and snacks. I wanted to sit and cry.

Recovery was not bad either. My hips and ankles were sore for a few days, but nothing bad. Now I just need to get back out and keep running. 

Photographer had an emergency, so this is the only photo. Huge smile as I neared the finish. 

I am one month away from my first ultramarathon trail race. It will be only the second official race I've ever done. The first being a 5k obstacle race.

I admit, I haven't been training or eating as well as I should for this race. I've been averaging about 20-25 miles a week, for a month or so, mostly in one long run. Lately my right hip has taken to hurting off an on. Usually the day after a long run, but recently during a run, turning it into a very short run. My web-search of the symptoms turns up that it's likely bursitis from over training. I've gone from doing about 10 miles once a week or so, to 20+ and apparently that's bad.

It's also really discouraging. Running trails is something I need. Something I love. It is one of very few things that clears my mind and puts me almost completely at ease. It is my time for introspection. It is my time to clear my mind of all thoughts.

I'm worried that training for this race, and possibly becoming injured is going to rob me of that clarity that I seek.

I'm going to stop running for a week. Tonight I'll try yoga for the first time (officially). I will work on strength training and stretching. I will try to make this better.

Trail Training

So in just over a month I run my first real trail race. It's a big one. And I'm definitely going to be under-prepared. But so long as I run just fast enough to finish in under 8 hours, all will be well. I trained 2/3 of the distance today. I did manage to stay under the necessary minutes per mile, so that's something. I just hope I can train enough in the coming weeks to be able to sustain that pace.

Here's a nice photo from the trail:

We tried our hand at winter camping. I just really like the desert and I hate the heat so I figured the desert during the winter would be great. And it was! Except at night it was really cold and very little changed that. Lesson learned. Anyhow, we drove to Grand Canyon National Park. We arrived after dark, so our first view was sunrise the next morning. A very nice introduction. Hiking at the Grand Canyon isn't much fun, as it starts on the downhill and ends on the uphill. But we did a couple little jaunts and it was quite nice. On the way back home, we stopped by Monument Valley which was beautiful and camped near the southern entrance to Canyonlands National Park in Utah. That night was probably even colder, but woke to a spectacular sunrise. I was super nice to take a vacation and get away for a bit. I don't think we'll be winter camping again anytime soon, though.

Sunrise on the south rim. 

Desert Watchtower. 

Mittens at Monument Valley

Sunrise near Canyonlands. 

Newspaper Rock.